It's that time of the year again - year end lists! I'll be posting my films lists in January, but for now, here's my book list. This year I got to read an incredible selection of books varying genres. Not all of them were gems, but there were clear standouts to the roster. It was hard to narrow the selection to only the top 10, but these are the books that stood out and would recommend to read. These aren't ranked in order.
Blind Spot: Requiem for a Dream
For the two years that I’ve participated in the blind spot series, I’ve reserved what I think was the bleakest, most daunting film for the finale. I’ve failed to complete my whole list for the year, but 11 out of 12 doesn’t seem so bad. I’ve heard good things about Requiem, how it was so bleak and depressing, but also a fantastic film. Up until I’ve seen the film have I been overselling it to my head, saving what I thought was the best for last. Sad to say but it did not meet my expectations.
The Good Dinosaur
Or How We Are All Arlo – Pixar’s latest venture may not be as grandiose as its previous outing (see Inside Out), but the struggle of the main character is real and relatable in what seems to be more of a children’s story. Arlo is a cautious dinosaur that fears a lot of things; he is a weakling compared to his quick-witted sister and his strong brother. One day, due to a storm and his encounter with a critter, he manages to get swept away from his home and into the wild. Along with his new friend Spot, he tries to get back home to his family.
Far From the Madding Crowd
Trailer: X-Men Apocalypse
Since the holiday season begun it's become difficult to just sit down and blog (or do any blog-related activities) - how do you guys do it? I'm just going to leave you with the new X-Men trailer. It looks very flashy and more dramatic but I'm not sure how it'll fare with its predecessors. The third X-Men movie was horrible, I'm hoping this doesn't suffer the same fate. What do you think? Are you looking forward for the final installment?
Blind Spot Series 2016
The Blind Spot Series is a yearly film event hosted by Ryan of The Matinee. For my previous blind spot choices, see 2014, 2015.
I'd like to think that my choices for the series varied for the past two years. However, as I'm coming to a conclusion to this year's blind spot list, I made an unfortunate discovery: I didn't have fun with my choices compared to the first year. Some of the films were daunting to watch, or I was underwhelmed with my expectations. I may have also possibly set my goals a bit too high this year, and have suffered complete burn outs for weeks at a time, and that might have played a role in viewing the film of the month. I was planning to go with foreign cinema for 2016, but seeing the results of this year, I might take a route similar to 2014 but instead of picking randomly, all my choices are films in the 70's. Here is my list for the upcoming blind spot series.
Harold and Maude (1971)
The French Connection (1971)
Solaris (1972)
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
Jaws (1975)
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
All the Presidents Men (1976)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Alien (1979)
Have you watched any of these films? What are your thoughts about it?
Trailers: The Huntsman, Zoolander 2, How to Be Single, Gods of Egypt
So this is happening. I think I'm one of the few who did enjoy Snow White and the Huntsman, but I didn't really expect a sequel from it. This time, Snow White's out of the picture (though I'm hoping there's some reference here to what she's been up to), focusing more on Hemsworth as the titular Huntsman. I'm glad Charlize Theron is back; she was a bit of a highlight in the first movie. Joining them are Emily Blunt (who is in so many movies lately, I love it!) and Jessica Chastain. Hopefully this would be enjoyable, a popcorn movie type of flick.
Trailer: Moonwalkers
This basically flew to my radar because it has the words 'Rupert Grint' in it. Unlike his fellow Potter co-stars whose fame has skyrocketed, Grint seems to be keeping himself on the down low. I haven't seen anything of his recently, and while this doesn't look promising, I'm hoping it'll at least be fun to watch.
Blind Spot: The Sound of Music
Thursday Movie Picks: Movies about Music/Making Music/Musicians
This week’s Thursday Movie Picks
will tackle movies about music/making music/musicians. These however, can’t be
biopics or focus on real life musicians. I was hoping to use a hidden gem this
week but it defies one of the rules so I’ll go with my recent favorites
instead.
Spectre
Thursday Movie Picks: Secret Agents/Spies
Happy Thursday everyone! One more day until the weekend; I'm hoping to catch Spectre this weekend, keeping my fingers crossed! This week's theme is quite timely with the film's release - secret agents or spies! Here are my picks this week:
Trailer: Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
A few days ago I stumbled into this movie through reading Ruth's interview with the director. I'm always on a lookout for films set in Hong Kong (besides the action-packed ones), so I'm definitely going to watch this for that. As for the movie itself, I don't want to expect much, but who knows maybe I'll end up liking it. I haven't seen much of Chung and Greenberg's works, but hopefully their off-screen partnership shines through their movie.
Break: Some Books I've Read
Double Feature: Knock Knock / The Final Girls
Blind Spot: The Shining
Trailer: Hail, Ceasar
The slight lull here will continue in the coming week as I have found that a crime-centered series that I've rigorously read this year had a sixth book released last year - I missed it so I will be stuck to my device flipping through the pages before I resurface to watch another movie. Meanwhile, here is the trailer for the new Coen Brothers film. It looks fun, and it has quite the cast, certainly can't wait for this one. I haven't started compiling my 2016 watch list yet, but this certainly makes the cut!
Pilots: September 21 - 25
The end of September means pilot season! A ton of new shows are going to be released for the following weeks, and I thought I’d give a run down to what I’ve seen so far last week.
Blind Spot: Y Tu Mama Tambien
Tomorrowland
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Labels:
comedy,
director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon,
drama,
Olivia Cooke,
RJ Cyler,
Thomas Mann
Thursday Movie Picks: Journalists/Reporters for Print/TV
Thursday Movie Picks is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering
Through the Shelves. She gives out a theme each week, and we are to choose
movies that correspond to the specific theme. For this week, it’s about
reporters or journalists for print or television. I don’t really know much
about reporters or journalists besides the usual details – fact check, report
the truth, and always get where the action is. Some of these people are very
good at their jobs and are recognized for their hard work in the field. Some
get into scandals, which are terrible, especially if it’s directly linked to
their work. Here are my picks this week:
Clouds of Sils Maria
Thursday Movie Picks: Train Movies
Thursday Movie Picks: Teachers
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him & Her
Pride & Prejudice
Inside Out
Oscar Re-Do Blogathon
I've read about this blogathon hosted by Matt of Film Guy Reviews through others' entries and I wanted to join in the fun. Before anything else, here are the rules:
1. You must only pick one film from one year.
2. When nominating it in different categories, you must take out one actual nominee to make room for yours.
Ex: Shame (2011)
Best Picture
-Who goes off: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Best Director (Steve McQueen):
-Who goes off: Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
3. After including it in each category you chose, give a short blurb as to why you would've entered it in the different categories that you chose and why you would've nominated it over the nominees that you replaced.
4. It can be a film that is already nominated. But one that only has about one or two.
5. After posting on your blog, you can post the link in the comments section of this page or tweet me @filmguy619.
You guys have two weeks to take part in this blogathon and I look forward to what you guys come up with. Have fun!
Against the Crowd Blogathon 2015
1. Pick one movie that "everyone" loves (the more iconic, the better). That movie must have a score of at least 75% on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you hate it.
2. Pick one movie that "everyone" hates (the more notorious, the better). That movie must have a score of less than 35% on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you love it.
3. Include the tomato meter scores of both movies.
4. Use one of the banners in this post, or feel free to create your own.
Blind Spot: Princess Mononoke
Solomon's Perjury Part 1: Suspicion
Yearly Hiatus
For every year that I've been blogging, I usually take time off from writing and doing anything movie-related, but that's usually because I'm on prolonged vacations. However, I haven't been on a good area in my life for some time, and that's taking a toll on a lot of things, including this blog. As much as I would like to keep content rolling, I feel rather constricted and need a breather. So I am taking the rest of the month off from this spot, save for some posts I already had on queue. I'm still going to be dropping by your blogs, but definitely would need some time off from my space. So that's it, until August! Hopefully things will be better by then, I really hope this hiatus is just temporary.
Thursday Movie Picks: Adaptations of Classic Literature (No Poems or Plays)
06/15: Isn't it strange, to create something that hates you?
Pilots: UnReal, Odd Mom Out, Stitchers
Blind Spot: Good Will Hunting
Thursday Movie Picks: Sibling Relationships (Biologically Related)
This Thursday is the last Thursday Movie Picks of the month, and with this being a year-long event, there’s still plenty of time to join! As on last Thursdays, it’s a family related theme, with this week all about sibling relationships! There are a ton of movies that revolve around siblings. Here are my picks this week:
Blind Spot: Citizen Kane
Thursday Movie Picks: Animated Movies
Trailer: The Martian
Ridley Scott's latest endeavor wasn't received well, but this might change things. Matt Damon taking another astronaut movie after he did Nolan's had me think that this is going to be similar to Interstellar. Time to dig out my book for this one!
Trailer: Irrational Man
Part of this year's Cannes festival line up, Woody Allen's Irrational Man features a professor entering a relationship with his student. The cast line-up sounds great, although most thrilled with Parker Posey being in the cast; she doesn't do 'big' films these days. This one I could slightly get on board with, as Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone doesn't look so awkward and 'father-daughter'-ly when standing next to each other. Their chemistry kind of reminded me of Josh Radnor and Elizabeth Olsen's movie (professor-student setup as well). Whether reviews are positive or negative, this one is on my radar; I don't think it could get any worst from last year's Woody Allen installment.
Thursday Movie Picks: Kids Movies Adults Would Enjoy
Of Human Bondage
Labels:
Bette Davis,
director: John Cromwell,
drama,
Frances Dee,
Leslie Howard,
romance
Thursday Movie Picks: Mother - Son Relationships (Biologically Related)
Trailer: Return to Sender
With Rosamund Pike's fantastic turn as Amy Dunne, she's pretty much hot property for dramas and thrillers at this point, with Pike engaging in a dark, sinister movie. She looks great in this and while I think it will go on a predictable route in the end, if the trailer's any indication of how intense things are going to be, I will most likely be watching this movie. What do you think?
Thursday Movie Picks: Movies Based on Graphic Novel/Comic (Non-Superhero)
Trailer: The Intern
I've seen some BTS photos of the movie since last year, so I am finally glad it's getting released. I know that I am going to watch this whether it turns out good or bad; the immediate need to will depend if it is good or bad. Still, Robert De Niro doesn't get as much meaty roles as he did back then; his last 'good' role was 2012's Silver Linings Playbook. Anne Hathaway looks reserved in this movie - I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. What do you think?
The Five Obstructions
The Skeleton Twins
Labels:
Bill Hader,
comedy,
director: Craig Johnson,
drama,
Kristen Wiig,
Luke Wilson
Movie Roulette Blogathon
As part of the celebration of her and her blog’s birthday, Mettel Ray is hosting a blogathon! It’s quite simple and fun - here are the rules:
1. There are 25 facts, you have to pick 5 or more and for each, you drag out a movie as an answer!
*Click on the gif, hold it and drag out a single movie
2. You can only drag out one movie for each statement, no do overs, guys!
*If you haven’t seen the movie (or can’t recognize it) you can pick again.*If you pull out a movie you already dragged out, you can try again until you get a different one.
3. Write down your answers and feel free to comment whether they make sense or not.
4. Link back to this announcement, and link to the Movie Roulette Ultimate Gif Set as well!
*The gif set does have some movie title glitches, apologizes!5. Last but not least, have fun!
I answered every question, following a pattern (1st, 6th, 11th, 16th and 21st question using the first gif set and so forth) and went with my 10 favorite pairings for this post! These are arranged by question number, so here are my favorite ones:
Thursday Movie Picks: Work Place Movies
It’s another Thursday which means another week for Thursday Movie Picks, hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves! This week’s theme is about work place movies. When I think of work place I usually think of four walls, paperwork, and all the technical jibber jabber there is in offices. However, a workplace is more than that, so I’m going to go ahead and deviate from that one. Here are my choices this week:
Double Feature: American Gigolo / Pretty Woman
Pure
Thursday Movie Picks: Father-Daughter Relationships (Biologically Related)
Avengers: Age of Ultron
White Swan, Black Swan Blogathon
Sati of Cinematic Corner is hosting a blogathon, where she asks us to write about our favorite characters that display dual personalities. I had a difficult time deciding which character to write about because apparently I surround myself with too much comedies that I barely watch anything with complicated characters. But here is a character I think fits the bill on having dual personalities. Note: this post has spoilers.
Thursday Movie Picks: Superhero Movies
Thursday Movie Picks is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Participants have to pick three movies that are in line for the week's theme and share their choices and thoughts about it. Seeing that the new Avengers movie opens this week, it's quite fitting that this week we talk about superhero movies. While the superhero genre has been consistent since then, it peaked when Marvel released Iron Man and people were impressed so thus began the stream of movies. This boom has made an impact on movie sales that even a fresh franchise (Spider-man) got its reboot before the movies reached a decade. We're even getting prequels for superhero movies! With a ton of these slated for the next couple of years, I wonder if the audience is starting to have superhero fatigue or we just can't get enough of them? Cutting this short, here are my picks this week:
Blind Spot: Leon (The Professional)
Labels:
blind spot 2015,
crime,
director: Luc Besson,
drama,
Gary Oldman,
Jean Reno,
Natalie Portman,
thriller
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